The fourth Brandon Burlsworth Foundation Legends Dinner saluted philanthropist Pat Walker and helped raise more than $255,000 for the nonprofit organization Jan. 10.

Marty Burlsworth, foundation executive director, told us the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation has donatedsome $150 million to health care and education organizations since 1986, when Miss Pat and her late husband established the foundation.

Alice Walton, oneof the evening’s speakers, said the Walkers’ “commitment to the benefit of our community and state health and education have had a profound impact on Arkansas and Oklahoma … Miss Pat, I love you, and we love you.”

Those joining Alice as speakers at the event included John Brown III, Mark Waldrip and Ken Hatfield.

Among those honoring Miss Pat and boosting the Burlsworth Foundation were Vickie and Marty Burlsworth, Barbara Burlsworth, Gen and Frank Broyles, Charlene Reed, Tom Garrison, Mike McFarland, Rick Barrows, Betsy and Loyd Phillips, Lynne Walton, Boyce Billingsley, Marilyn Bogle and Cathy and U.S. Sen. John Boozman.

The Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Council marked the holiday in his honor with its 18th annual Recommitment Banquet at the Fayetteville Town Center.

The annual dinner celebrates King’s life, recognizes exceptional community members and raises money for scholarships for high school, undergraduate and graduate students.

Rather than a keynote speaker, this year’s banquet guests were treated to a selection from “Bound by Blood,” a play written and directed by Clinnesha Sibley, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas.

This year’s honorees and awards included: Brendan I. Cook - Rodney Momon Youth Award;

Tanya Cook - Ernestine White-Gibson Individual Achievement Award;

Barbara Lofton - Lifetime Achievement Award;

William “Bill” Whitfield - Rev.

J.A. Hawkins Sr. Posthumous Award and Ronnie Brewer Foundation - Organization of the Year.

Those joining in the celebration included Beverly Keown, John L Colbert, Kimberly McGee, Ron Brewer, Michael Tarvin, Trey Smith, Marcus Carruthers, Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Genette Howard, Scott Varady, Angela Monts, Danielle Wood, Calvin White, Rashad Delph and Ugochi Iloka.

AT A GLANCE Legends Dinner Who: Brandon Burlsworth Foundation What: The Burlsworth Foundation recognized Pat Walker’s legendary philanthropy When: Jan. 10 Where: Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale Information: (870) 741-1443 or brandonburlsworth.org Recommitment Banquet Who: Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Council What: The annual dinner celebrate’s King’s legacy and raises money for scholarships.

When: Monday Where: Fayetteville Town Center Information: (479) 575-4825 or nwamlk.orgColumnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].

Northwest Profile, Pages 29 on 01/26/2014